Playwright MCP Server for Claude Desktop: Setup & Config

What you can do with Playwright in Claude Desktop

Pick it for Playwright automation with device presets, test generation, and automatic browser setup.

• Test responsive pages using phone and tablet emulation profiles.
• Capture screenshots while investigating a web application.

Before you start: Playwright in Claude Desktop

• An MCP-compatible client
• npm/npx tooling
• Playwright browser binaries, installed automatically if missing

This is the documented stdio configuration. HTTP mode uses --port 8931 and requires type: http in the client. The server binds to localhost; the README describes SSH tunneling for remote access.

Playwright Claude Desktop configuration

1. Choose Claude Desktop configuration scope

   For Playwright MCP Server, open macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json. Merge under mcpServers via Settings → Developer → Edit Config when available.

2. Add Playwright MCP Server to Claude Desktop

   Use the mcp-playwright entry below in mcpServers. Keep Playwright MCP Server's documented stdio connection fields and your other Claude Desktop entries.

3. Check Playwright MCP Server in Claude Desktop

   Playwright MCP Server: Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop; check developer diagnostics.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-playwright": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@executeautomation/playwright-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Playwright tools available to Claude Desktop

Playwright's stored tool list documents 1 tool; compare it with Claude Desktop's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

playwright_resize

When Claude Desktop requests playwright_resize from Playwright, review the action before approving it.

Change browser dimensions or select a device preset and orientation.

Playwright: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting Playwright in Claude Desktop

• Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop for Playwright MCP Server. If npx @executeautomation/playwright-mcp-server (Node.js/npm) is missing, check the desktop process's PATH, which may differ from your terminal.
• Playwright MCP Server uses stdio here: Claude Desktop must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
• Known limitation: HTTP clients must explicitly set their transport type correctly.
• Known limitation: The HTTP service binds locally; remote access needs an additional approach such as SSH tunneling.
• General Claude Desktop troubleshooting lives in the /clients/claude-desktop guide.

Frequently asked questions